Air conditioner theft leaves Palm Springs' Smoke Tree post office sizzling

After a bizarre theft, cool air has finally returned to the United States Postal Service office at Smoke Tree Village in Palm Springs.

Parts from all three of the post office’s air conditioning units were stolen between July 7 and July 11, according to Palm Springs police, resulting in just under $20,000 worth of damage.

“This is the first time that I can recall something like this,” said Palm Springs Police Department spokesperson Gustavo Araiza. The police lieutenant noted that air conditioning thefts from properties under construction were not uncommon but that the theft of commercial air conditioner parts from an established property was unusual.

An employee at the post office who declined to be named said the theft left two of the three air conditioning units disabled, with the one remaining unit struggling to cool the entire location. The theft came shortly before a brutal heat wave descended on the Coachella Valley, resulting in multiple days of 117-degree highs in Palm Springs and prompting the National Weather Service to issue an extreme heat warning for the area in effect from July 11 through July 22.

The post office employee said the location never closed as a result of the air conditioning theft, but noted that it was “really hot” and that they had to bring a personal fan from home to try and cool off.

Replacements for the missing parts were lifted by crane onto the post office this week, according to the employee, resulting in a return of cool air Wednesday morning.

Araiza said police were investigating the incident but currently did not have any leads.

This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: Air conditioner theft leaves Palm Springs' Smoke Tree post office sizzling